Alabama police say a 5-year-old autistic boy held hostage for the past seven days is safe and his kidnapper is dead.

Jimmy Lee Dykes, 65, had taken the boy from his school bus last Tuesday after killing the bus driver. He then forced the child into an underground bunker with him where the hostage standoff ensued.

Fearing the child hostage was in increasing danger, FBI stormed the Ala. underground shelter late Monday to rescue him.

The boy, identified only as Ethan, was unharmed physically but was taken to a local hospital for observation.

During the standoff, the FBI communicate with Dykes through piping to underground bunker. Agents managed to deliver Cheez-Its and a Red Hot Wheels car to the autistic child.

Earlier, the community of Midland City, Ala., called on people to pray as a hostage standoff continued. People posted fliers around the small town in the southeastern corner of the state, encouraging others to pray for the boy's safety.